Shane Duffy

Everton

Duffy joined Everton in November 2008 as a first-year scholar and worked his way through the U-18 and reserve teams. Manager David Moyes named him and several young players in the first team for the pre-season friendlies and Duffy scored his first Everton goal against Rochdale in a 4–0 victory. He was promoted to the first team for the 2009–10 season and appeared on the substitute bench in league matches. At the age of 17, he made his professional debut versus AEK Athens in the UEFA Europa League in December 2009, coming on for the injured Sylvain Distin. In Everton's next European fixture, Duffy made his home debut at Goodison Park, completing the full 90 minutes against BATE Borisov, making his second and last appearances for the side in the 2009–10 season. At the end of the 2009–10 season, he was awarded the club's Reserve Player of the Year. In May 2010 Duffy was seriously injured after colliding with a goalkeeper during a training match. He had undergone emergency surgery after lacerating his liver, and losing over three litres of blood in what medical staff described as "freak accident". Two months later, he spoke out about his injury, saying: "I can't thank them enough. I've thanked them so many times and I'll thank them again for being so good at their jobs and saving me. I'm so happy. I appreciate everything they've done for me. It's hard to tell people what it feels like because no one else knows I nearly died. So I just have to live life now, and…

Northern Ireland

Duffy was part of the Northern Ireland youth set-up from the U16 level upward. In July 2008, he was called up to the Northern Ireland U20 squad for the Milk Cup. An U17 regular, he was in the squad for their unsuccessful 2009 European Championship qualifying campaign and scored the only goal of the match, a penalty, in the opening game against Liechtenstein. Aged 17, Duffy was called up to the senior team in June 2009 for a friendly against Italy but was an unused substitute. Despite not playing, he was praised by Manager Nigel Worthington, saying: "I would have liked to have given him a little bit. It's unfortunate because he was first class. I had a word with him and, even though he did not play, he has had a great season." In August 2009, he made his Northern Ireland U21 debut, playing the whole match and scoring in the 2–1 away loss to Portugal. Duffy played several games in the 2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship qualifiers, scoring twice in a 4–0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland's first win of the qualifying campaign.

Republic of Ireland

Duffy opted to play for the Republic of Ireland, for which he was eligible through his Irish nationality. Duffy later reflected on his decision, saying: "It was what I wanted to do. It was difficult for me to leave because of what they've done for me in Northern Ireland since I was young. They brought me through the ranks which gave me the chance to come to Everton. So it was hard to…

Duffy was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. As a youth, he played Gaelic football for Doire Colmcille CLG and association football for Foyle Harps, both based in Derry. However, Duffy had to make a choice between Gaelic football and association football, so he choose association football. He represented Northern Ireland at under 16 level in the 2007 Victory Shield tournament and impressed Everton manager David Moyes in a performance at Bloomfield Road against England. Duffy said that he once played for Derry City as a youngster and described it as a "good experience" for him.

Duffy said he is close friends with former teammate, Darron Gibson. Duffy attended a St. Anne's school in Ireland, and supported Celtic growing up. Duffy has two children. Duffy once ranked Wigan Athletic's supporters as "the worst fans in England" and compared the atmosphere at the DW Stadium to a "library". In December 2017, he was fined £811 after being convicted of speeding by breaking a 30 mph limit in his Mercedes. In May 2020, Duffy's father, Brian, died aged 53. He previously suffered a family bereavement that saw him miss a match during his playing career. In 2017, Duffy tweeted a tribute to Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader Martin McGuinness upon his death. He faced online criticism and his club, Brighton, requested he remove the tribute. He had previously been criticised over tweets from his account in support of the IRA, although he claimed not to be responsible. In 2024, prior to Norwich City's play-off semi-final fixture against Leeds United, Duffy was arrested and subsequently charged with "driving while unfit through drink" after an alleged incident in Hethersett, Norfolk, close to his home. After pleading guilty to the charge he was banned from driving for three years.